October 16, 2024 – Y-Brush Benjamin Cohen, Junior Achievement Ed Grocholski and Elise Awwad

School for Startups Radio

Benjamin Cohen – Co-founder and CEO of Y-Brush

Benjamin Cohen is co-founder and CEO of Y-Brush, a French start-up with a “whole mouth” sonic toothbrush that is disrupting the oral care category. Y-Brush was created to simplify the act of brushing your teeth while also making it more efficient: instead of brushing your teeth one by one, why not brush them all at once? Benjamin drew on his expertise in entrepreneurship and medical devices to launch Y-Brush. He quickly teamed up with a doctorate of science – Christophe CADOT, co-founder and CTO – for the technical development of the product. Supported financially from the outset by various players such as bpiFrance and its French Tech grant, the initial project was aimed at caregivers in medical-social establishments (assisted living, hospitals, etc.), enabling them to brush the teeth of elderly and disabled patients. Shortly thereafter the team launched their direct to consumer product, which sold very quickly in more than 70 countries. Today Y-Brush has more than 100K+ happy users, a full product suite, and they’ve just launched a major expansion into the US, while strengthening the position across Europe.
Ed Grocholski – Chief Marketing Officer of Junior Achievement USA

Ed rejoined Junior Achievement USA’s National Office in September 2012 after spending more than a decade in Washington, D.C., in a variety of strategic communications and marketing roles. Most recently, Ed was a partner in the Lindberg Group LLC in Washington, D.C. He was responsible for business development, management and strategic communications planning and implementation for the firm’s clients. In this role he developed social media and media relations strategies for the U.S. Department of State’s Fulbright Program and developed digital assets for the Council on Foundations’ Public-Philanthropic Partnerships. He developed and implemented marketing and public relations programs for a variety of organizations including the National Association of Workforce Boards, the U.S. Department of Labor, Columbia University, and the National Academy Foundation. As vice president of Public Education for Ogilvy Public Relations, he developed several marketing and public relations programs for nationwide initiatives including National Job Shadow Day and the U.S. Department of Education NAEP Nation’s Report Card. At Ogilvy he managed a group responsible for $2 million in annual billings. Early in his career, Ed served as Junior Achievement’s director of Public Relations and Development. He has remained an active supporter of JA and worked to develop JA’s media strategy.
Elise Awwad – President and CEO of DeVry University

Elise Awwad is president and CEO of DeVry University and considered one of the most innovative leaders in higher education. Known for breaking down barriers and leading cultural transformations, Awwad is passionate about the role education plays in supporting the career advancement of all learner populations. At DeVry, Awwad is committed to fulfilling the University’s Mission, vision and values with internal and external stakeholders, as well as supporting and enhancing the institution’s academic mission and overall operations. As president and CEO, Awwad drives DeVry’s innovation, academic integrity, and student success by helping DeVry’s current and future students realize their career ambitions through in-demand degree programs; enabling employers to bring their strategies to life through partnerships that meet their needs for in-demand skills; and helping society meet the urgent need to reskill the workforce that is being reshaped by technology and automation. Building upon the existing strengths of the University, Awwad advances DeVry as a high-quality institution providing career-oriented education, with unique, inclusive and innovative degrees and non-degree programs that integrate technology, business, science and the arts. Previously, Awwad was DeVry’s Chief Operating Officer and redefined student support with a focus on academic success that extends to intensive career preparedness, lifelong professional development, and integration of the student’s whole person. She has re-envisioned how technology and process excellence can support and extend the work of top-flight faculty and advisors, earning wide recognition from industry observers. Through her leadership, DeVry has consistently improved key measures of student success while reducing the real-dollar cost of education through multi-year tuition freeze and substantial investments in grants and scholarships. Since joining DeVry as an admissions advisor in 2004, Awwad’s leadership has spanned multiple departments, experiencing first-hand what students need, enabling her to become DeVry’s first female President and CEO in 2023. Inspired by the students’ stories, she has committed her career to developing personalized journeys that ensure their education leads to graduation and success beyond. Her belief that diversity and inclusiveness is an essential part of productivity, creativity, and innovation drove her desire to support and build a diverse network of women scholars. In 2019, Awwad founded DeVry’s first women’s affinity and business resource group, EDGE (Empowerment, Diversity, Growth, and Excellence), which promotes the enhanced career experience and advancement of women in leadership roles within the University and broader community. EDGE was recognized in 2023 as a Top 25 ERG in the Diversity Impact Awards. In 2021, Awwad sponsored the establishment of DeVry’s Women+Tech Scholars program, helping to close the opportunity gap for women in this field and equipping them with the skills and networking connections needed to pursue careers in technology related fields. Awwad is a founding member of Chief, a private network designed specifically for women in leadership roles from rising level VPs to CEOs. Chief has a network of 5,000+ of the most influential senior leaders in the U.S. representing over 2,500 companies working to cross-pollinate power across industries and effect change from the top-down. She is a member of the International Women’s Forum, an invitation-only global membership organization of more than 7,500 diverse and accomplished women from 33 nations on six continents. The International Women’s Forum is committed to advancing women’s leadership and championing equity and equality across careers, cultures and continents. Awwad is also a board member and student journey chair for Zollege, a family of schools in healthcare fields, is on the GetSet Learning Board of Advisors and is a member of League of Women Voters. Awwad has a bachelor’s degree in business, concentrating on small business management and entrepreneurship from Southern Illinois University. She also earned an MBA from DeVry University’s Keller Graduate School of Management, an Executive MBA from the University of Notre Dame, and a certificate in public policy from the Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy at the University of Virginia.